Tony Hawk was considered one of the top skateboarders in the world by the time he was sixteen years old. In his seventeen-year professional career, he won more than seventy skateboarding contests, including gold medals at the 1995 and 1997 X Games.
About Life Stories
Life Stories is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media organization that creates and distributes documentaries, interviews, and educational resources about people whose lives inspire meaningful change. These stories address issues of civics, history, politics, the arts and culture by shining the spotlight on relatable human stories of purpose and meaning in times of change. We provide open access to all our content for communities and classrooms through our curated website and YouTube channel.
About The Thread
The Thread is a new documentary interview series exploring what it means to live a purpose-driven life through conversations with multi-faceted people who have helped shape our society. Each 30-minute episode takes viewers on a personal journey into the life of extraordinary people who candidly share their triumphs and failures. The Thread is available on the Life Stories website and YouTube channel, and as a podcast across all major platforms. Teaching The Thread brings the series into the classroom with episode lessons designed to strengthen social emotional learning and media literacy skills and expand the scope of subject matter in Social Studies and English Language Arts. Future seasons of The Thread will include similar curricular support.
Introduction:
In this video, Tony Hawk describes his skateboarding journey as a mix of passion and determination, talks about overcoming challenges by obsessively honing his skills, and recalls the iconic moment when he landed the 900 at the 1999 X Games. Hawk reflects on the entrepreneurial spirit that led him to start Birdhouse Skateboards in 1992, shaping a culture defined by art, lifestyle, and sport. Please visit Tony Hawk: Finding Your Passion to see the full lesson created by Life Stories. .
STEP 1
Begin by watching this clip of Tony Hawk’s The Thread video: 0:35–7:09. In this clip, Hawk reflects on his determination when learning a new trick or skill. In your writing journal, briefly write about a skill or a hobby you’ve gone on a journey with—how did you first learn it, and how have you grown with it?
STEP...
by Sean Prentiss
Essayist, poet, and National Outdoor Book Award winner Sean Prentiss shares 5 techniques to use when writing scenes.
by 826 National and Life Stories
Stories can bridge our past to our future—but only if we build them. In this lesson, you will reflect on a story from your personal history that you think others could learn from.
by Lila Coffey, Grade 10, MA
Lila Coffey addresses her fears for women and children, in her poem addressed to the next President of the United States. Viewer disecretion is advised.
by Amanda Gorman
Presidential Inaugural Poet, activist, and bestselling author Amanda Gorman shares one of her favorite techniques for starting a poem or getting over writers' block.
by Mychal Threets, librarian and literacy ambassador
Librarian and literacy ambassador Mychal Threets invites you to write about your feelings, your way with four writing prompts to explore your emotions on the page.
by 826 National and Life Stories
Songwriters are powerful storytellers. Their lyrics can connect us, uplift us, and even heal us. In this lesson, you’ll identify a story of your own and turn it into original song lyrics.
by 826 National, featuring Priyanna Kumar Singhania, Grade 8
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by 826 National and Life Stories
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by Austin Bunn
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by 826 National
Television writer and showrunner Tim McKeon shares how you can study your favorite TV show to learn about screenwriting.
by 826 National
In this lesson, you will build your confidence as a writer by battling the page on a consistent basis.
by Javier Zamora, 826 Valenica alumni and New York Times bestselling author
Author Javier Zamora invites you to raise your voice and write to the next President of the United States.
by 826 National and Life Stories
Activism and art are personal—they are fueled by your perspective of the world. In this lesson, you will write a poem or a narrative that shares your deep connection to an important topic or issue.
by Amy Dupcak, 826NYC
Writer and teaching artist with 826NYC, Amy Dupcak, shares a memoir writing prompts that helps students use specific sensory language to describe a place they love.
by 826 National
Radiologist Matthew Bucknor shares while it's important for students studying STEM fields "not to sleep on the Humanities."
by Jason Reynolds
National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and NYT Bestselling Author, Jason Reynolds, joined 826 students for a conversation on his video project, "For Every One."
by Sean Prentiss
Essayist, poet, and National Outdoor Book Award winner Sean Prentiss shares his favorite way to develop the setting of a story or essay as a fully formed character.
by 826 National
Writers are guided by their personal and artistic values as they work to achieve their goals. But what are those values built on? In this lesson, you will discover that for yourself.
by 826 National
Revision is the process of making substantial changes in your writing. In this lesson, you will use revision strategies to strengthen a current piece of writing you’re working on.
by 826 National
Law student Brenda Quintanilla shares how writing is a vital tool to use when advocating for your community.
by 826 National and Life Stories
In this lesson, you will learn about Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Lewis’s life, an idea she calls “fierce-love,” and the importance of learning to love yourself.
by 826 National and Life Stories
In this lesson, you will find the funny in your everyday life experiences and share those moments in a cartoon.
by 826 National and Life Stories
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by Natalie Moore
In this lesson, you will use journal entries as inspiration for a dynamic narrative poem.
by Cristeta Boarini, 826 MSP
Journalist and 826 MSP staffer, Cristeta Boarini, shares a poetry prompt that walks students through using shapes to convey meaning.
by 826 National and Life Stories
In this activity, you will explore your values and the lived experiences that have shaped them, and then write a poem that shares your vision for the future.
by 826 National
Nicole Dungca, Investigative Reporter at The Washington Post and President of the Asian American Journalists Association, shares strategies for asking key questions.
by 826 National
In this lesson, you will learn a strategy for writing down your thoughts and feelings to understand them more clearly.
by 826 National
Television writer and showrunner Tim McKeon shares how he became a scriptwriter and the valuable skills you'll need if you'd like to become one too.
by 826 National
Senior Business Development Manager Erin Polgreen shares more about the ways she sees LinkedIn users engaging with writing on the platform.
by 826 National and Life Stories
You will write a “soundscape” poem filled with familiar sounds of your neighborhood or home.
by Jason Reynolds
Part letter, part long-form poem, "For Every One" offers reflections and courageous words about unraveling and rebuilding one's dreams.
by Isabella Baldisseri, Grade 10, OR
Isabella Baldisseri reads her original piece of writing—a letter to the next President of the United States—addresssing her concerns about Palestine. Viewer discretion is advised.
by 826 National, featuring Alistar Bedell, Grade 11, CA
In this lesson, you will practice analyzing different types of a narrative technique called irony. Then, you will write your own scene that uses irony to develop an imaginary experience or character.
by Robin Reid Drake, 826CHI
826CHI Teaching Artist, Robin Reid Drake, shares an original writing prompt that encourages students to borrow lines from their favorite pieces of writing and then remix them into something new.